has joked so much about 'the Pointers'
that she is quite rampant at the mere idea of a child in the house. She
told me to take it to the Rose Garden. I said it was running over now,
and no room even for a mite like this. 'Go to the Hospital,' says she.
'Baby isn't ill, ma'am,' says I. 'Orphan Asylum,' says she. 'Not an
orphan got a father who can't take care of her,' says I. 'Take her to
the Foundling place, or Mrs. Gardener, or someone whose business it is.
I will not have the creature here, sick and dirty and noisy. Carry it
back, and ask Rose to tell you what to do with it.' So my cruel parent
cast me forth but relented as I shouldered baby, gave me a shawl to put
her in, a jumble to feed her with, and money to pay her board in some
good place. Mother's bark is always worse than her bite, you know."

"And you were trying to think of the 'good place' as you sat here?"
asked Rose, looking down at him with great approval as he stood patting
Rosa's glossy neck.

"Exactly. I didn't want to trouble you, for you have your house full
already, and I really couldn't lay my hand on any good soul who would be
bothered with this little forlornity. She has nothing to recommend her,
you see not pretty; feeble; shy as a mouse; no end of care, I daresay
yet she needs every bit she can get to keep soul and body together, if
I'm any judge."

Rose opened her lips impulsively, but closed them without speaking and
sat a minute looking straight between Rosa's ears, as if forcing herself
to think twice before she spoke. Mac watched her out of the corner of
his eyes as he said, in a musing tone, tucking the shawl around a pair
of shabby little feet the while, "This seems to be one of the charities
that no one wants to undertake, yet I can't help feeling that my promise
to the mother binds me to something more than merely handing baby
over to some busy matron or careless nurse in any of our overcrowded
institutions. She is such a frail creature she won't trouble anyone
long, perhaps, and I should like to give her just a taste of comfort, if
not love, before she finds her 'Marmar' again."

"Lead Rosa I'm going to take this child home, and if Uncle is willing,
I'll adopt her, and she shall be happy!" cried Rose, with the sudden
glow of feeling that always made her lovely. And gathering poor baby
close, she went on her way like a modern Britomart, ready to redress the
wrongs of any who had need of her.

As he led the slowly stepping horse